Another medal for Hong Kong – Chan Ming-tai takes silver in the long jump
The 22-year-old leaps 8.03 metres on his fifth attempt to ensure second place behind China’s Huang Changzhou
Long jumper Chan Ming-tai won a third medal for Hong Kong at the Asian Track and Field Championships after clinching second place in Bhubaneswar, India on Sunday night.
The 22-year-old jumped longer than eight metres for the first time since qualifying for last year’s Rio Games, leaping 8.03 metres on his fifth attempt. He made 8.01 metres with his last attempt.
The gold medal went to Huang Changzhou, of China, who jumped 8.09 metres while Shoutarou Shiroyama, of Japan, came third with 7.97 metres.
Chan set a Hong Kong record of 8.13 metres last May to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where he just missed the final by finishing 13th overall with 7.79 metres.
Coach Chan Wai-yin said the result gave her athlete a strong boost ahead of next month’s World University Games in Taiwan and the National Games in Tianjin in September, especially with Chan making two jumps over eight metres in the final, which he hadn’t done for a while.
Chan’s silver medal came a day after the men’s 4x100-metre relay team finished third.
Featuring So Chun-hong, Ng Ka-fung, Tang Yik-chun and Tsui Chi-ho, Hong Kong trailed China and Thailand for the bronze in 39.53 seconds. It was also the fourth consecutive medal the relay team won since 2011.
They were champions in 2013 – the first and only gold medal Hong Kong have won at the regional championships.
On Friday, Cecilia Yeung Man-wai clinched a silver medal in the women’s high jump.
It was also the first time Hong Kong returned with three medals from the tournament, an empathetic result according to Amateur Athletic Association senior vice chairman Simon Yeung Sai-mo.
“The two field athletes are both very young and are our hopes for future games including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” said Yeung.
“Of course, our next immediate target will be the World University Games and the National Games, but their recent achievements have already inspired many young athletes. The relay has been our stronghold for a number of years and although they may not be as strong as before we hope with the inclusion of some new faces, they can continue to make progress.”
